Gastroparesis associated with gastroptosis presenting as a lower abdominal bulking mass in a child: a case report

BACKGROUND: Gastroparesis is defined as an inhibition of the gastric motility associated with delayed gastric emptying, which is mainly presented with acute dyspepsia. Gastroptosis is the downward displacement of the stomach. CASE REPORT: We report a rare case of secondary gastroparesis due to gastroptosis in an 11-year-old female child. The patient complained for bulking mass in the left lower quadrate presented a week ago, which was mimicking a large abdominal hernia. The laboratory and radiological exams revealed an excessive gastroptosis associated with gastroparesis. We searched the literature but we failed to find other cases with idiopathic gastroptosis in a child. The patient was treated conservatively and six months after the initial diagnosis and treatment the patient does not complains for dyspepsia. CONCLUSION: Gastroparesis associated with gastroptosis is a rare entity that can be treated conservatively with acceptable results.